ASHEBORO — Runway models and horticulture designers share a common goal — to make the final product look stunning!

Sue Baltes knows that. She’s worn the shoes of both careers.

Now, she is the owner of Herbs n Garden, a cozy little shop tucked behind Brightside Gallery at the corner of Worth and Cox streets in downtown Asheboro.

Inside her store, you can sit in a rocking chair, chat, admire the view and watch entertaining videos about how to grow your own garden or landscape your outdoors. You can wander through the Herb Garden or take classes on container planting or cooking. You can find most any kind of culinary herb there.

The little shop has given new life to the old carriage house which sits behind Brightside Gallery. Mary Murkin, gallery owner, originally wanted to convert the building into a meeting venue.

She already knew Baltes, who was selling container gardens and fairy houses inside the gallery.

Murkin and Baltes came up with the idea of putting a little garden shop in the carriage house. The idea grew roots — and blossoms.

Aside from selling a lot of plants, she has welcomed garden clubs and bridal showers to hold events inside her store. Her calendar is getting full.

The setting is straight out of a fairy tale. You never realize you’re in downtown by a busy city street. The interior speaks to Asheboro’s history, with the original log walls and layers of plastered brick. Colorful plants, whimsical décor and funky designs spark creativity, lively discussion and — fun.

Outside, there is Emory.

He is an apple tree.

When Murkin was researching the property for Brightside Gallery, she learned that before the house was built way back when, Emory Kearns owned an apple orchard there.

Baltes was selling apple, fig, olive and other trees in container gardens decorated with bright red, pink, yellow or white annuals, blended with moss and perhaps a piece of an old china plate.

“Yes, you can grow a tree in a pot. You simply prune the roots and the tree thrives,” she explained.

But Baltes’ daughter, Sammy Jo, saw an opportunity and suggested that they plant a tree on the property. Perhaps it was Kearns’ spirit sending a message …

That’s the story of Emory.

You get the feeling that this isn’t just any ordinary place, right? It’s not. It’s a charming garden shop — warm, cozy, cute and filled with temptation — basil, tomatoes, rosemary, catnip, chives and much more. It’s a gift shop, a library, a gardener’s resource and a little playground that makes Baltes smile.

Baltes studied and taught runway modeling at Bauder College in Atlanta. She produced fashion shows for a chain retailer. She was a whiz on the tennis court and taught the sport. For 12 years, she watered and cared for plants at Greensboro corporate offices. She learned how to operate a back-hoe during her horticulture years at the N.C. Zoo. Even though she never became a master gardener, she taught the classes.

Yet through it all, she found time to rummage through thrift shops, buying up scraps of unusual items to help tell a story in her fairy gardens. Baltes has made a local name for herself by selling them at the Piedmont Triad Farmers’ Market and other places.

Today, Baltes is joined by her husband, Steve, and daughter to operate the shop. Friends help. Baltes broke her hip a few years ago and can no longer lift heavy items. That is why she designed the shop to be handicapped accessible with small plants and accessories to sell. Plus, they give her more space.

Her inventory of herbs is quite long and she’s always looking for more unusual ones to stock. She may grow them in a bird cage or a Victorian water pitcher.

Her handcrafted Draft Dodgers have been a big hit. They are stuffed with aromatic herbs and are placed at the bottom of a door to keep cold air out. Lavender and rosemary topiaries and bonsai trees have been quite popular. Dream pillows, stuffed with rosemary and lavender, work well to end sleepless nights.

Baltes can be seen most days nurturing her butterfly, mint, scented and culinary gardens, helping customers or filling orders. A local organization recently purchased around 100 container gardens for thank you gifts. Each pot included thyme and mint. The card read — “Thank you for your thyme. It really mint a lot.”

In June, Baltes will be offering Lunch & Learn classes, catered by BrewBakes. She will also have summer camps for daycare centers.